Hundreds of nurses sent by Government of Kenya to Saudi Arabia have continued to raise concerns on their welfare at work place.
Journalist Larry Madowo has been receiving harrowing tales from Kenyans dispatched to Saudia; an indication that all is not well.
Madowo learnt from them that they traveled to Saudi Arabia under a government initiative for caregivers and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), hoping for well-paying jobs with favourable working conditions but, today, they are facing a different arrangement.
The employees claimed that they are not given off days and are expected to work continuously unless they have an emergency medical reason.
“Please be informed that, following a meeting held on 27 November, it has been decided that all employees will no longer have scheduled days off. Kindly ensure this information is disseminated and that the new directive is complied with,” read part of a notice to employees, as shared by Mr. Larry Madowo.
Additionally, the nurses alleged that they are working under slavery-like conditions full of labour law violations.
They told Madowo that their attempts to seek assistance from their government have been futile, with supervisors instructing those with complaints to go ahead and resign.
“If you find the way we manage things intolerable, you have the right to resign. If you are dissatisfied with your current situation, please send an email to raise your concerns,” read a notice from a supervisor, as shared by Mr. Madowo.
Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu, addressing the issue, revealed that the Ministry was yet to receive any official complaint from those affected in the programme.
“We haven’t received any reports of distress from nurses working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the PS’s statement read in part.
She, therefore, directed any employees facing challenges to report to the Embassy in Riyadh, or the State Department for Diaspora Affairs for assistance.
